Steve Tyrell's warm subdued presence makes him stand out among the other male vocalists releasing albums at the opening of the 21st century. His contemporary styling of heartfelt standards is done in a manner that creates perfect background for romance without overpowering or intruding on the mood of the moment. This Guy's In Love (Columbia Records) is filled with a crowd of classics arranged to amplify and make that moment something special, indeed.
The album's three opening tracks are all about setting the mood with the simple presentation of dependable material, from "Isn't This Romantic?" to a rumba-styled variation of "Just in Time", to a jazzy cover of "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To". In an era where smooth vocals are king, Steve Tyrell offers a sound and a voice somewhere in between Dr. John and Randy Newman.
Composer and musical mentor Burt Bacharach joins Steve with a lovely arrangement and piano duties on the album's title track "This Guy's In Love", a song whose lyrics and melody perfectly underscore the idea of simply stated romance. The whole collection evokes familiarity and sentiment, evidenced by such tried and true choices as "The Nearness of You", "I've got a Crush on You"' and the motion picture-level slow dance "That's All".
While some recording artists walk into rooms with a presence larger than life itself, Steve Tyrell has chosen material that provides a canvas for the interludes that are best accompanied by a clear melody and words that can be echoed by listeners caught in a moment.
Visit Steve's website at www.stevetyrell.com.
